Web-winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

Web-winding apparatus including a reel on which a roll being wound is contacted by a rider roll, and a potentiomer associated with the rider roll monitors the roll buildup and controls a DCindexing motor to rotate the winding roll away from the rider roll to maintain substantially constant pressure between the rider roll and the winding roll. A control circuit controls the acceleration and deceleration of the indexing motor as the rolls are being changed to permit web tension to be maintained constant.

United States Patent Inventors John E. Nordgr'en Fulton, N.Y.;

Hans Wirth, Milwaukee, Wk. 872,873

Oct. 31, 1969 Dec. 28, 1971 The Black Clavnon Company Hamilton, OhioAppl. No. Filed Patented Assignee WEI-WINDING APPARATUS 9 Claims, 3Drawing Figs.

Int.

Field of Search 242/56, 56 A, 64, 65, 67.1, 67.5, 755, 75.51, 75.53

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,580,717 1/1952 Ballou242/67.5 X 2,943,806 7/1960 Phelps 242/56 3,298,624 1/1967 Schott, .lr.242/64 3,478,975 1 1/1969 Penrod 242/64 3,494,163 2/1970 Wight 242/7551X Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath Assistant Examiner- Werner H.Schroeder AttameyMarechal, Biebel, French 8: Bug;

ABSTRACT: Web-winding apparatus including a reel on which a roll beingwound is contacted by a rider roll, and a potentiomer associated withthe rider roll monitors the roll buildup and controls a DC-indexingmotor to rotate the winding roll away from the rider roll to maintainsubstantially constant pressure between the rider roll and the windingroll. A control circuit controls the acceleration and deceleration ofthe indexing motor as the rolls are being changed to permit web tensionto be maintained constant.

Patented Dec. 28, 1971 FIG-l INVENTORS JOHN E. NORDGREN &

HANS WIRTH WEB-WINDING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Inconventional web-winding apparatus, a rotatable reel carrying two ormore roll core spindles receives a web of paper or the like on one ofthe roll cores, with the spindle on which the core is mounted beingdriven to wind the web on the core. A rider roll is mounted in aposition adjacent the reel and contacts the winding roll to assist inthe winding process. An attempt is made to maintain a constant pressurebetween the rider roll and the winding roll by providing the rider rollwith a limit switch which trips as the rider roll moves upwardly inresponse to an increase in diameter of the roll. Tripping of this limitswitch causes an AC motor to be energized to move, or index, the reel sothat the winding roll moves downwardly away from the rider roll. Thedownward movement resets the limit'switch on the rider roll and causesthe indexing motor to stop. The rider'rollis then again moved upwardlyby the buildup on the core until the limit switch is again tripped andthe process is repeated. Thus the indexing movement is an inter- SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION A DC motor is used to index the reel and the roll corescarried thereby, and a potentiometer is used to sense any change inposition of the rider roll in a direction generally normal to its axis.Since the potentiometer permits an essentially constant monitoring ofthe rider roll position and the DC motor provides a relatively slowspeed, essentially constant indexing movement for the reel, changes inweb tension and rider roll pressure are substantially diminished.

The DC motor also provides improved control over the indexing of thereel for purposes of roll change since the indexing speed can becontrolled and the motor decelerated prior to the reel approaching theproper position.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedweb-winding apparatus in which a DC motor is used to index a windingreel to maintain the web tension substantially constant throughoutwinding; and to provide an improved web-winding apparatus wherein thesame DC motor is used for the purpose of roll change thus permittingpositive positioning of the reel by controlling the speed at which thereel moves and decelerating the motor prior to the reel moving intofinal position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view ofweb-winding apparatus incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a different position of someof the components; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship of the variouscomponents of the system to each other.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 the web-windingapparatus is shown as a base supporting the usual pair of end stands 11on which is mounted the reel 12 comprising a main shaft 13 and a pair ofreel arms 15, only the near end stand and reel arm being shown. Theopposed ends of the reel arms 15 carry roll core spindles 17 or chucksadapted to receive removable roll cores, shown as a new core 18 and acore 19 on which the roll 20 is being wound.

The reel arms 15 carry separate motors 22 each having a belt orchain-driving connection 23 to one or the other of the spindles 17. Thespeeds of these motors are controlled by a conventional system inresponse to variations in the tension of the web W being wound. Suchspeed control system is shown diagrammatically as including atension-sensing idler roll 25 and an associated force transducermechanism 26 connected with the speed control 27 for the motors 22.

The reel 12 is rotated to carry the spindles 17 between winding andunloading positions by an indexing drive motor 30 having a drivingconnection 31 with the reel 12. In accordance with the invention, thismotor 30 is a DC motor, and its control system 33 includes means forsensing the position of the outer circumference of the roll 20. In theembodiment shown herein, this sensing means includes a potentiometer 35operated by a rider roll 40 which engages the upper surface of thewinding roll throughout the winding operation.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rider roll 40 is carried by a pair of arms 41secured to a pivot shaft 42 joumaled in supports 43 on a frame 44mounted separately from the end stands 1] on the base 10. The arms 41also carry an idler roll 45 at their outer ends which is wrapped by theweb as it approaches the rider roll 40, and the web is guided to theidler roll 45 by a series of other rolls in including thetension-sensing roll 25 and two intermediate idler rolls 46 and 47.

The frame 44 also supports the enveloper and knife assembly, whichcomprises a pair of arms 50 pivoted at 51 in the frame 44 to swingbetween the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the web is to be cutfrom a fully wound roll and transferred to a new core which may bedetennined visually or by any of the controls conventional in this art,the parts are moved to the position shown in FIG. 2 in which the newcore 18 is engaged by the rider roll 40 through the web, and the roll 52at the outer ends of the arms 50 lifts the web into enveloping relationwith the core 18. With the parts in this position, the knife mechanism55, which is pivoted on the axis of roll 52, is operated by the cylinder56 to cut the web and to direct its cut leading end around the surfaceof the core 18 so that the web starts to wind thereon, essentially asshown in Marczincsin U.S. Pat. No. 2,787,427.

The movements of the rider roll 40 and its supporting arms 41 resultingfrom the increase in the diameter of the winding roll are utilizedduring the winding of each successive roll to control the operation ofthe indexing motor 30 through the potentiometer 35. The control shaft ofthe potentiometer 35 carries an operating wheel 60, which may be asprocket or cog wheel capable of being driven by a chain 61 or timingbelt. This chain or belt also loops a driving sprocket 62 or cogwheelwhich is fixed on the pivot shaft 42 or to one of the arms 41 so that itrotates in direct response to movement of the arms 41.

In the practice of the invention, the system is so adjusted that in apredetermined reference position of the arms 41 wherein the rider roll40 is adapted to engage the surface of the winding roll 20, the indexingmotor 30 would be stopped.

However, since the web is being would constantly on the roll 20, thisroll will increase in diameter, and to maintain the rider roll 40 in thesame position, the indexing motor 30 will run almost continuously at alow speed. If the roll increases in diameter faster than the indexingmotor 30 moves the roll 20 downwardly, the rider roll 40 will then moveupwardly, changing the position of the potentiometer to increase thespeed of the indexing motor 30. Thus, any movement of the arms 41 willcause adjustment of the potentiometer 35, and the circuitry is such thatthis adjustment will cause the motor 30 to run in the direction torotate the reel 12 counterclockwise at the proper speed as viewed in thedrawing, and thereby to enabit: the rider roll to return toward itsreference position.

The advantages of the invention are best understood by comparison withthe conventional practice, wherein an AC motor is used as the indexingmotor for the reel under the control of a limit switch operated bymovement of the supporting mechanism for a rider roll, as shown, forexample, in Phelps U.S. Pat. No. 2,943,806. With such a system, theindexing motor makes intermittent starts and stops, which necessarilyproduce changes in the length of the web approaching the winding reel.Even though such changes are not extensive, they must still becompensated for by the speed control for the spindle 17 on which thewinding roll is being supported. Unless the timing of such changes andcompensatory speed adjustments is precise, which is difficult to achievein practice, the result will be differences in tension during windingwhich are sufficient to cause differences in hardness of the wound roll.

in contrast with the prior practice, the control system of the inventionis such that relatively slight movement of the rider roll will cause themotor 30 to operate at correspondingly slow speed. In fact, the motor 30is readily controlled to run virtually constantly at such slow speedthat the tension on the web is maintained essentially constant, and anychanges in web tension which occur do so slowly enough that the drivemotor 22 for the winding roll has adequate opportunity to adjust itsspeed accordingly.

The system of the invention also provides significant advantages duringthe indexing of the reel for purposes of roll change. During thisinterval, control of the indexing motor is taken over by the roll changecontrol 65, the cycle of which may be initiated manually orautomatically when the proper amount of web has been wound. The control65 causes the' rider roll arms 41 to be lifted, by fluid pressurecylinders 66, to the dotted position in PK]. 1 wherein clearance isprovided for the new core 18 to be moved into roll start position byrotation of the reel through approximately 180. The control 65 causesthe indexing movement of the reel to be accomplished by controlledacceleration of the motor 30, followed by similarly controlleddeceleration as the reel approaches the proper position for roll change.This controlled movement of the reel allows the winding motors 22 tocompensate continuously for changes in web length caused by indexing andthus the tension of the web is maintained substantially constant.

Since a DC motor is used for indexing the rolls, more precise controlover the indexing position of the reel can be obtained since the speedof the motor can be varied over wide ranges. In those devices where ACmotors were used to index the rolls, power to the motor is disconnectedprior to the roll reaching its final position, and with the roll beingallowed to move into its final position by inertia. With a DC motor,however, the rolls can be moved at high speed during most of theindexing movement, and just prior to reaching its final position, themotor will be slowed so that the roll will be positioned accuratelywithout relying on inertia to being it into position.

When the reel has moved the new core 18 into the proper roll startposition shown in FIG. 2, the control 65 causes the arms 41 to return totheir reference position wherein the rider roll presses the web againstthe core, and it then causes operation of the arms 50 and the knifemechanism 55 to complete the transfer of the web to the new core.Thereafter the control 65 causes the arms 50 to return to their normalretracted position shown in FIG. 1, and the winding then proceeds asdescribed under the control of the position sensing potentiometer 35.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferredembodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Continuous web-winding apparatus comprising a reel supported forrotation about a central axis;

means in said reel for rotatably supporting a plurality of roll cores;

means for rotating said roll cores at a controlled rate to provide asubstantially constant magnitude of tension of the web;

means for selectively rotating said cores to wind a web thereon;

drive means for rotating said reel to carry each of said cores to andfrom a winding position, said drive means including an electric motor,the speed of which can be controlled; and circuit means for controllingthe speed of said drive means when in a winding position in such mannerthat the reel is rotated substantially continuously at a controlledspeed such that tension of the web being wound on said cores ismaintained at a substantially constant magnitude. 2. Web-windingapparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit means includesmeans for sensing the location of the outer circumference of the webbeing wound on one of said cores with respect to a predeterminedreference location; and

means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the speed of saiddrive means so that said reel is rotated to move said roll to maintainthe circumference of the web substantially at said reference locationthroughout winding thereof.

3. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive meansincludes a DC motor.

4. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensingmeans includes rider means positioned adjacent said winding position forengagement with the surface of a roll winding on the adjacent said core;

means mounting said rider means for movement with respect to said rollsurface; and

means for continuously sensing the position of said rider means andproviding an output to control the speed of said drive means.

5. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said mountingmeans for said rider means includes a pivotal mounting, and said sensingmeans is connected with said pivotal mounting for continuous sensing ofthe movement of said mounting and rider means.

6. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said drive meansincludes a DC motor and said responsive means comprises a potentiometerconnected to regulate the speed of said motor, and means forming anadjusting connection between said potentiometer and said mounting meansfor said rider means.

7. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said mountingmeans for said rider means includes an arm having a pivotal mounting,said drive mans includes a DC motor, and said responsive means comprisesa potentiometer connected to regulate the speed of said motor, and meansforming a direct driving connection between said mounting means and saidpotentiometer for adjusting said potentiometer in accordance withmovements of said rider means.

8. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said last-namedmeans comprises a belt or chain drive including a driving wheel mountedfor pivotal movement with said arm, a driven wheel connected to effectadjustment of said potentiometer, and a belt or chain forming thedriving connection between said wheels.

9. Continuous web-winding apparatus comprising a reel supported forrotation about a central axis;

means in said reel for rotatably supporting a plurality of roll cores;

means for selectively rotating said cores to wind a web thereon;

drive means for rotating said reel to carry each of said cores to andfrom a winding position, said drive means including an electric motor,the speed of which can be controlled;

means sensing the location of the web wound on said cores with respectto a predetermined reference location; and

means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the speed atwhich said drive means continuously rotates said reel when in a windingposition thereby to maintain the circumference thereof substantially atsaid reference location throughout winding.

1. Continuous web-winding apparatus comprising a reel supported forrotation about a central axis; means in said reel for rotatablysupporting a plurality of roll cores; means for rotating said roll coresat a controlled rate to provide a substantially constant magnitude oftension of the web; means for selectively rotating said cores to wind aweb thereon; drive means for rotating said reel to carry each of saidcores to and from a winding position, said drive means including anelectric motor, the speed of which can be controlled; and circuit meansfor controlling the speed of said drive means when in a winding positionin such manner that the reel is rotated substantially continuously at acontrolled speed such that tension of the web being wound on said coresis maintained at a substantially constant magnitude.
 2. Web-windingapparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said circuit means includesmeans for sensing the location of the outer circumference of the webbeing wound on one of said cores with respect to a predeterminedreference location; and means responsive to said sensing means forcontrolling the speed of said drive means so that said reel is rotatedto move said roll to maintain the circumference of the web substantiallyat said reference location throughout winding thereof.
 3. Web-windingapparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes a DCmotor.
 4. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsensing means includes rider means positioned adjacent said windingposition for engagement with the surface of a roll winding on theadjacent said core; means mounting said rider means for movement withrespect to said roll surface; and means for continuously sensing theposition of said rider means and providing an output to control thespeed of said drive means.
 5. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim4 wherein said mounting means for said rider means includes a pivotalmounting, and said sensing means is connected with said pivotal mountingfor continuous sensing of the movement of said mounting and rider means.6. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said drive meansincludes a DC motor, and said responsive means comprises a potentiometerconnected to regulate the speed of said motor, and means forming anadjusting connection between said potentiometer and said mounting meansfor said rider means.
 7. Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 4wherein said mounting means for said rider means includes an arm havinga pivotal mounting, said drive means includes a DC motor, and saidresponsive means comprises a potentiometer connected to regulate thespeed of said motor, and means forming a direct driving connectionbetween said mounting means and said potentiometer for adjusting saidpotentiometer in accordance with movements of said rider means. 8.Web-winding apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said last-namedmeans comprises a belt or chain drive including a driving wheel mountedfor pivotal movemeNt with said arm, a driven wheel connected to effectadjustment of said potentiometer, and a belt or chain forming thedriving connection between said wheels.
 9. Continuous web-windingapparatus comprising a reel supported for rotation about a central axis;means in said reel for rotatably supporting a plurality of roll cores;means for selectively rotating said cores to wind a web thereon; drivemeans for rotating said reel to carry each of said cores to and from awinding position, said drive means including an electric motor, thespeed of which can be controlled; means sensing the location of the webwound on said cores with respect to a predetermined reference location;and means responsive to said sensing means for controlling the speed atwhich said drive means continuously rotates said reel when in a windingposition thereby to maintain the circumference thereof substantially atsaid reference location throughout winding.